Get in where you fit in
 

Rho and I had this discussion while driving around town Wednesday...and I continued it with UT yesterday: "belonging" where you live.

Rho and I have come to the conclusion that, based on our personalities and interests, we do not belong in the area where we live. That's not to say our neighborhood is bad or that we're bad, but...

Rho and I could be best described as "poor yuppies." We like city living, we don't have kids, we're not planning on having them, and we like to do artsy-fartsy stuff. Yet, we live in an area that is basically suburban, upper-middle class, with a lot of teenagers. Rho thinks it needs some color and culture...and I tend to agree. We live where we do b/c it was close to where I worked when we first moved here...and moving is an incredibly expensive process.

Rho and I have looked at parts of Philadelphia that would be more compatible with our way of life, and we always strike out. The places are either run-down, too expensive, too small, or the neighborhoods aren't exactly the safest.

Someday, we'll find that perfect place...after I'm rich. Or at least, once we're finally making serious paper.

You guys belong in Manayunk once you get the dough.

Are there actually places for people like you?

move to LA. every block of every street is a bizzare mix of yuppies, artsy-fartsy, immigrant, queer-as-nuts, liberal, conservative, rock star, porn star, and WASP.

Well, everything but normal. That's in short supply.
-sm

Juju, yes, there are. And for you too...there is a trailer park with your name written all over it.

Sheppsie, I had never really thought about Manayunk. I was thinking more along the lines of Mt. Airy or Chestnut Hill. Though I'm waiting to see if they shut down the R7 and R8 before we consider a move over there. Manayunk is nice, but may not be compatible with Rho (given the ridiculous hills and what not).

Well... when you get tired of living in Philly and decide to move back down here, I think Charles Village will be the place for you. Or Fells Point. Or Canton.

But not Lutherville. No... definitely not Lutherville. :p

When we discussed moving to Baltimore, downtown (along Charles or St. Paul Sts.) and Canton were on the list. You're right though...not Hoosierville (Rho's words, not mine). If we ever moved back to DC, it'd be Takoma Park, Bethesda, or Arlington.

"If I was smart I'd run fast
Out of this town
Sometimes I want to shout and scream
Fuck L.A."
--Goldfinger

Admittedly, I've never been to Los Angeles. I'm sure it's a nice place to visit and all, but based on what I've heard (good and bad), it sounds like New York, only sprawled out over more miles. Chicago is as big as I'll go.

That's really the ultimate goal--Chicago. It has been for about a decade now, but for some reason, it never quite pans out. One of these days.

What's the beef with Rooferville?
 

I don't see what HB's complaining about; Lutherville seems to have happily accepted our household of ex-NYC rad-lib-fem Jewish single mom and her big, scary-looking live-in who comes and goes at odd hours and dreams of constructing a pyramid of skulls on the manicured front lawn. Why wouldn't Syc and Rho make a good go of it here, too?

(Were it up to HB, we'd be firmly entrenched somewhere along B'lair Road, hon, amidst the guns 'n' ammo shops and the pickups with the confederate battle flags aflappin'. But, honey, where will the kids go to Hebrew school?)

Hmmm... that didn't used to be a problem. Must be a New South thing.

Re: What's the beef with Rooferville?
 

Skulls with neatly punched holes through them? With an entry and an exit hole?

The pyramid idea is kinda unique, I always pictured the skulls being mounted on posts along the perimeter of the yard. To each his own though.

I kinda dig the idea of the spikes along the perimeter fence with bits of flesh still rotting off the skulls. (slang and I haven't totally nailed down the details of the decor.)

Re: Get in where you fit in
 

My advice is to stay where you are and work on corrupting the teenagers. It'll be a public service if you can get them to grow up to be more interested in artsy-fartsy stuff than in whether their lawn looks like a golf course.

Nah, we've been trying that for 3 years now...they're beyond hope.

Re: Re: What's the beef with Rooferville?
 

Very Heart of Darkness, nice.

     Only if the skulls are facing in. And who has that much time on their hands for that much yard work?
     Oh yeah, and the smell of a head on stake would attract a lot of flies... and that's a whole nother book.

Our new lease started this month, but before you know it, it'll be time to start packing shit up and get the fuck out of here.

Because of leap day in '04, our lease ends 9/29/04--a Wednesday. The goal I have at this point is to have our new apartment by 9/1. Moving day is tentatively planned for Labor Day weekend...you all show up to help pack and move, we'll provide food and drink.

We've pretty much decided on moving to the northwestern section of the city--most likely Mt. Airy, Chestnut Hill, or East Falls. We've got a list of a dozen or so places to check out, which we'll probably start doing in January.

(Sorry UT...as tempting as it is to move in with you out there, that would just be too weird for Rho and I. Plus, you live too far out in the 'burbs.)

Wherever we move to, it will be our last move while living in Philadelphia. The next time we move after this one is to Chicago or Baltimore/DC.

oooh oooh ooh!!!

Chestnut Hill!!
(if you can find a place that doesn't cost an arm and a leg)

That's very close to me. I'm just off the end of Stenton Ave.

A few of the places we're looking at are on Stenton Avenue, on the Philadelphia side of the street. There's also a place off Lincoln Drive, and a couple of others off Germantown Ave.

And the prices have been fairly reasonable, IMO. Most of the places we're looking at are slightly bigger than what we have now, with the same conveniences we have now, and run about $800-925 a month. We pay $774 now.

Cool, I work in Mt. Airy. Seems like a nice place to live.

Alden Park--one of the frontrunners

Chestnut Hill Tower--Another one we're considering, though I'm hesitant about dealing with Korman

yikers on the rents. You can have a MUCH larger place in the burbs for those prices.

I don't think it would be awkward. Nowadays, no one talks to their neighbors anyway. In all likelihood, they would leave you alone.

You could probably rent a townhouse from a private landlord in East Falls for less than what those guys are charging for a 2bdrm.

Matt, that is an option we're considering...but we can't really do any looking into that until at least June. The biggest problem with that is that the college students from St. Joes and Penn are starting to seep into those areas...and the rents are going through the roof. You should see the prices in Roxborough...fucking ridiculous. Shit...they're seeping up here too...*smack!* Get the fuck outta here!

Wolf...we're trying to escape from the burbs, remember? :)

Rho touched upon it, but the bottom line is that we want to be in a place that caters better to people like Rho and I--the neighborhoods we are looking at do just that. And they're all closer to Center City, which will make my commute to work cheaper and shorter. Color me happy. :)

I guess because I'm somewhat paranoid about people nowadays, I don't put anything past anyone. Plus, I've learned that people can be "funny" sometimes: one minute they are nice and "hi-how-are-you-doing", and the next minute, you find out they're plotting your demise. :p